Marked for Linus Borgström
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Match20 May 2028
Beaten 1‑5 by Malmo FF, and beaten everywhere it matters. The inquest starts on the training pitch on Monday morning.
Squad22 May 2028
A one-man rearguard from Ramiro Véliz
There were 7 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.
Squad22 May 2028
Lucas Kåhed was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Player ratings22 May 2028
Successful dribbles: 19. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Squad22 May 2028
The manager makes an example of Anton Andersson
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Player ratings22 May 2028
A performance of 8.63 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.
Boardroom22 May 2028
The manager kept them in and said what needed saying. A response is expected on Saturday, and if it does not come the questions move upstairs.
Squad22 May 2028
“I have given this everything, but my family is not here and neither am I, not really.” A footballer can be coached out of bad form. Nobody has ever been coached out of this, and Falkenberg know it.
Player ratings22 May 2028
Shots: 7. Goals: none. The chances were there and they were good ones, and they went into the stand, the goalkeeper's arms and the side netting in roughly that order.
Back issues
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market15 May 2028
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Falkenberg, and it is not being withdrawn.
Squad15 May 2028
Lucas Kåhed in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Falkenberg this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad15 May 2028
The manager makes an example of Linus Borgström
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Player ratings15 May 2028
Marked 8.24 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings15 May 2028
Marked 8.16 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.
Player ratings15 May 2028
Successful dribbles: 17. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Market14 Feb 2028
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Falkenberg can pretend not to have heard.
Squad14 Feb 2028
“The easiest signature of my career.” Linus Borgström and Falkenberg agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad14 Feb 2028
Robin Book in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Falkenberg this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Market14 Feb 2028
Ezra Tika-Lemba is 20, and Falkenberg have signed him for the player he will be rather than the one he is. The first team can wait; the point of a deal like this is the years it buys.
Market14 Feb 2028
He is 20, and nobody at Falkenberg signed him for this season. Deals like this are judged in four years, by people who may not still be in the building.
Market14 Feb 2028
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Alexandre Tam has his answer from Falkenberg; what he does with it is the next window’s story.
From our football correspondent
Steady
Player ratings25 Oct 2027
Successful dribbles: 32. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
Player ratings25 Oct 2027
A defender's afternoon for Noel Hansson
Defensive actions: 28. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.
Market25 Oct 2027
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Falkenberg is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad25 Oct 2027
Robin Book was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad25 Oct 2027
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Linus Borgström and Falkenberg agree another 3 years.
Match23 Oct 2027
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Albin Andersson. 1‑0 against Atvidaberg, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Player ratings25 Oct 2027
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.27, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Squad25 Oct 2027
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Player ratings25 Oct 2027
Defensive actions: 17. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.
From our football correspondent
Crisis
Match4 Sep 2027
Beaten 1‑4 by Malmo FF, and beaten everywhere it matters. The inquest starts on the training pitch on Monday morning.
Squad6 Sep 2027
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Market6 Sep 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Falkenberg, and it is not being withdrawn.
Squad6 Sep 2027
Robin Book in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Falkenberg this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad6 Sep 2027
Samuel Kroon gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
Player ratings6 Sep 2027
There is a version of this player everybody suspected was in there, and on this evidence it is. 8.03, and no argument anywhere in the ground.
Boardroom6 Sep 2027
The music was off and the showers ran late. What was said in that dressing room stays there, but Saturday will publish the minutes.
Squad6 Sep 2027
The award is a small thing with a heavy meaning: for four weeks nobody in this division did his job better. Falkenberg have the trophy on a shelf and the player in the side.
Player ratings6 Sep 2027
Successful dribbles: 15. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Match3 Jul 2027
No end in sight to Falkenberg's wait for a win
6 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Falkenberg has to find a result from somewhere.
Market5 Jul 2027
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Falkenberg, and it is not being withdrawn.
Player ratings5 Jul 2027
Headers, blocks, tackles, interceptions — 23 of them, and not one goal behind him. The sort of performance that never makes a highlight reel and wins football matches.
Squad5 Jul 2027
Robin Book was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad5 Jul 2027
The manager makes an example of Albin Andersson
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Player ratings5 Jul 2027
Successful dribbles: 18. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Market5 Jul 2027
“We keep meeting, and we keep leaving the room with the same numbers we walked in with.” Another round of talks at Falkenberg, another week without a signature from Lucas Kåhed.
Squad5 Jul 2027
“I did not come here to warm up in front of people.” He is out of contract eventually, he is old enough to count the weeks, and Falkenberg will have to give him a reason to stay or an exit.
Match3 Jul 2027
Point won or two lost for Falkenberg?
Ninety minutes, no goals, and the argument started before the car park emptied: a point gained, or two thrown away against BK Hacken? Both sides of it will still be going on Thursday.
In brief
-
Squad
Linus Borgström asks for a word with the manager
-
Player ratings
A defender's afternoon for Lass
From our football correspondent
Upbeat
Market24 May 2027
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Squad24 May 2027
“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Falkenberg may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.
Player ratings24 May 2027
A defender's afternoon for Noel Hansson
Defensive actions: 25. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.
Squad24 May 2027
Robin Book was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Squad24 May 2027
“I have given this everything, but my family is not here and neither am I, not really.” A footballer can be coached out of bad form. Nobody has ever been coached out of this, and Falkenberg know it.
Player ratings24 May 2027
A performance of 8.57 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.
Match22 May 2027
A 1‑0 win over Malmo FF, earned rather than given, and the sort of afternoon that sends everyone home talking about next week instead of this one.
Player ratings24 May 2027
Defensive actions: 19, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.
Player ratings24 May 2027
Successful dribbles: 17. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market30 Nov 2026
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Falkenberg can pretend not to have heard.
Market30 Nov 2026
The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Falkenberg is pretending he will be back in the shirt.
Squad30 Nov 2026
Daniel Ljung was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Boardroom30 Nov 2026
99% of the income goes out in wages at Falkenberg
Every club in football pays most of what it earns to its players. Paying nearly all of it is a different arrangement, and it has ended the same way every time somebody has tried it.
Squad30 Nov 2026
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Falkenberg, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Market30 Nov 2026
1 months left and the two sides are nowhere near each other. Every week this drags on takes money off what Falkenberg could get for him.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market2 Nov 2026
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Falkenberg can pretend not to have heard.
Market2 Nov 2026
Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Linus Borgström will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around Falkenberg the goodbyes have quietly begun.
Squad2 Nov 2026
“The easiest signature of my career.” Godwin Aguda and Falkenberg agree another 4 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.
Squad2 Nov 2026
Godwin Aguda in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Falkenberg this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Squad2 Nov 2026
“Some mornings you wake up and you are still a long way from everything you know.” It is not the football and it never was; Falkenberg are dealing with a man who wants a different country.
Market2 Nov 2026
“We keep meeting, and we keep leaving the room with the same numbers we walked in with.” Another round of talks at Falkenberg, another week without a signature from Godwin Aguda.
From our football correspondent
Uneasy
Market5 Oct 2026
Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Falkenberg they have already started talking about him in the past tense.
Market5 Oct 2026
“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Falkenberg can pretend not to have heard.
Player ratings5 Oct 2026
Successful dribbles: 23. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Player ratings5 Oct 2026
Defensive actions: 23. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.
Squad5 Oct 2026
Daniel Ljung was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
Player ratings5 Oct 2026
Defensive actions: 22. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.
Squad5 Oct 2026
The manager makes an example of Linus Borgström
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
Boardroom5 Oct 2026
Wages eat 110% of everything Falkenberg earn
There is a figure at which a wage bill stops being ambitious and becomes the reason nothing else is possible, and this club has reached it. Nothing is left over for a transfer, a stand or a rainy afternoon.
Squad5 Oct 2026
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Falkenberg, and both men came out saying it was fine.